problem-solving

Meet Michelle! She left the corporate world to be a stay-at-home mom to her adorable twin boys. However, she was looking for a way to not only contribute financially in her family, but also make a difference in other peoples’ lives. By partnering with Moms Making Six Figures, she has been able to do both of those things, and more! Read on to learn more about Michelle’s story.

What was life like before Moms Making Six Figures?

Life before Moms Making Six Figures was good! I was home, raising my twin boys who were born in 2012, and just enjoying life with my family. I was happy to not be working in the corporate world anymore. Prior to having my twins, I worked in pharmaceutical research. I was working long hours, both during the week and on the weekend. I kind of felt like a workaholic. So, when they were born, I was very blessed to be able to resign from my corporate career of 16 years. I said goodbye to that job easily. It was a great job, but it didn’t really fulfill me. I never really felt like I was helping people, and honestly, that’s what I had wanted to do in my life.

So, I was raising my boys. As time went on and the boys got older, finances got tighter, and I really felt like I needed to contribute to the family. (Especially living in California!) I just didn’t know what, and I definitely wasn’t going back to a corporate career, working 60-hour weeks. I had always been a worker-bee and something inside me knew that I wanted something for myself, as well. I needed some kind of goal, or something to achieve, but also contribute to our family.

Why did you decide to partner with Moms Making Six Figures?

I was introduced to MMSF through Paula Gartin, Kellee Wip and Stacy Fiske, who were my neighbors. Paula lived on my street at the time, but I didn’t really know her that well. However, I really liked her. She had always been so sweet and invited me to various events she had at her house. The twins were in a part-time preschool at the time, so I was finally getting some time to myself. As much as I loved being home with them, a little time for myself was absolutely needed. It was around that time that I started to pray for the right opportunity to come along. Then I went to Paula’s one night to hear about what she was doing and MMSF literally fell in my lap. It was like, “yes, this is what I want!” I want a team, I want to work part-time, I want to be able to do it around the family, and I want to help people.

I had seen a lot of other work-at home jobs, but none seemed right. In my 20’s I had actually tried to sell cosmetics from a well-known, large company. A close friend of mine was selling it and doing well. She encouraged me to start selling and to buy a large starter kit. I spent $4000 on the largest starter kit of make-up! Looking back, I can’t believe I did that. I even went to the company’s convention! I did have some cosmetics parties, but in the end, the make-up just sat in my parents’ garage for years after that. I lost so much of money, I didn’t even want to look at the products sitting there. It made my stomach turn to see how much money was wasted.

The partners at MMSF are amazing women who support, encourage and care for each other. I know I can ask for help and someone will be there. They just want the same in life as any other mom. They want healthy, happy families and homes, along with the gift of time. They want to use their time to be with their loved ones, pick up their kids from school, be at their kids’ games and be present in their families’ lives.

What were your skepticism’s? How did you overcome them?

All my skepticism’s, concerns and fears have been about me and building my business: can I do this, can I reach those goals, will I succeed? There are times I felt I didn’t have what it takes to do well, to be consistent and have the confidence to make it work. We aren’t each other’s boss, so it’s really about being accountable to yourself while putting in the work. Whenever I start to question myself and ‘get in my head’, I call one of the partners at Moms. They help me through it and they help me see this is all part of the journey. Everyone has these same fears and questions at some point.

These four phrases help me overcome my skepticisms and fears:

-Persevere: Don’t quit, move on from disappointment. ‘Bless and release.’

-Be engaged: enjoy time with friends and business partners. Get out and celebrate the achievements and be around the women who know what you’re going through – talk to them and be vulnerable. Listen and laugh.

-This is a gift: What we have is a gift and don’t be afraid to share.

I didn’t just pull the four phrases above from out of nowhere. It’s all from the training with Moms Making Six Figures. Calling it great training doesn’t even come close to the level we receive, it’s phenomenal. I wouldn’t be where I am in my business without the women of Moms guiding, supporting and encouraging me all the way. Being around this group of women has really changed me for the better. It’s helped with my confidence, it’s helped me to have a thicker skin, and it’s helped me grow in character. Building my business was way out of my comfort zone, but now I know I can do it. And I won’t have to do it alone.

This week we talked with Angie Wright. Her story is one a lot of moms can relate to as they weed through various “work-from-home” careers out there. Angie found herself in serious debt after investing her precious time, energy and money into a business that drained her on all fronts. Understandably, she was skeptical to learn about Moms Making Six Figures. Would it be different than her past experiences? Read on to learn more about her journey!

Can you give us a little bit of your background? What were you doing before Moms Making Six Figures?

Of course! I was born and raised in Oceanside California. I went to Vanguard University in Costa Mesa and studied Intercultural and urban studies. When I graduated in 2000, I was a youth pastor for 3 years in the Los Angeles area. I loved working with youth and when I moved back to Oceanside in 2003, I started working with teenagers in group homes. My heart and passion still lie with helping at-risk youth. I eventually became the Director of a crisis program for teens through the YMCA, but in 2014 the program lost funding and I was let go.

After all of that happened, I decided to stay home with my kids. I have a 10-year-old son named James, an 8-year-old daughter, Janise, and then our two-year-old son, Jasiah. I loved being at home with my kids, but I knew I still needed an income. I tried anything and everything to be a stay at home mom and contribute financially.

What were the types of jobs you did to maintain your lifestyle as a stay-at-home mom?

Initially, I helped run a daycare with my mom in her home for about a year. After that, I dabbled in some direct sale companies. I sold juices, jewelry, and the biggest one was LuLaRoe, which I worked with for about two and a half years. The initial investment was a very hefty $5,000 for the clothing and roughly another $3,000-$5,000 for all the equipment needed. I enjoyed my time with LuLaRoe because I loved helping women feel beautiful and I love the clothes myself, but it was a very hard business to be in. I spent countless hours advertising on Facebook, ordering more inventory and getting severely into debt. Not to mention, working events where I had to literally haul 300-500 pieces of clothes back and forth from my home.

I realized I was spending so much money and time away from my family that the business just was not worth it anymore. So, I left.

What did you do with your left-over inventory? Were you able to sell it before you stopped working with LuLaRoe?

I had the option of returning inventory, but below wholesale because I would have had to pay a restocking fee. The process was so arduous, instead I decided to discount my remaining inventory to other retailers and my current customers. I definitely did not make my money back because I had to discount it way below wholesale to sell it all.

One of the hardest parts about selling LuLaRoe is that we were not able to pick the patterns of the clothes. We could pick the style and the size, but they would send us whatever print they had. To tell you the truth, there were some prints that no one wanted to buy, and retail consultants would end up getting stuck with them!

So, tell me a little about how this journey led you to Moms Making Six Figures?

In January of 2018, my friend, Jennifer Becker contacted me and wanted to share more about her business. I knew if anything, we would be good source of referrals for one another.We had become friends when our daughters started kindergarten together in 2016.I knew she did some sort of work-from-home business because she had a table set up at a fundraiser at the school. Unfortunately, I was too busy setting up my 300-piece display and did not have time to go check it out.So, I told her that I would be open to hearing more.Little did she know I was struggling financially and having regrets for starting a LuLaRoe business.

Jennifer came over to my house, we sat at my kitchen table and she shared with me what Mom’s Making Six Figures was all about.By the end I was literally in tears because for some reason I saw a hope and a future in her presentation I hadn’t experienced with any other company.More than that, Jennifer was so genuine. I believed she would be a supportive friend and business partner, which is something I never had before.

How have you found Moms Making Six Figures to be different from your career with LuLaRoe?

At first, I’ll admit I was a little skeptical to jump on board based off my previous experiences. In the past, I had become “star struck” with other business presentations and none of them had worked. They all left me broke, in debt and hopeless. However, I decided to give it a try to see if there really was NO startup cost or fees. If what Jennifer had said was true, I thought, what’s the risk?

Jennifer helped me get my business rolling by mentoring me, helping me educate others and so much more. I was amazed that I truly did not have to spend any money to become successful in this business. Month after month, I have received a paycheck without having to sell any products, carry inventory, or invest any money in supplies.I haven’t had to lug 100+ pieces of clothing to fairs and vendor events or bombard my Facebook friends with posts about buying my products.My work now revolves around the relationships I build and sharing my experience with others.

I am so grateful to Jennifer for introducing me to Moms Making Six Figures and for the continuous support she offers.On top of that, we have an entire team of supportive women I can turn to for anything at any time.Because of my new career with Moms Making Six Figures, I will have the financial freedom to support my family and give back.

I will once again have the time to use experience in social services and as a youth pastor to help those in need.I have always dreamt of opening a center for at-risk youth since beginning my work with teens back in 2000. I am confident Moms Making Six Figures will help me realized this dream!

Meet Lauren! She went from a corporate career to many different Multi-Level Marketing businesses in search of something with the flexibility and income she needed. Lauren knew there had to be a career option that would allow her the freedom to be the mom and career women she wanted to be. Through many trials and tribulations, she finally came across Moms Making Six Figures…Read on to see how her story unfolds!

What were you doing before you found Moms Making Six Figures? And how did you find Moms Making Six Figures?

I was a Human Resources Coordinator for a property management firm before I found Moms Making Six Figures. When I had my son three years ago, I had to get up at 4:30AM to get him to childcare, so I could start my 54-mile commute to work and be on time. It was a logistical nightmare. Plus, I never saw my son. My Mom and Mother-in-Law were practically raising him because my husband’s job takes him away from home quite a bit. (Not to mention, he is in school getting his PhD for NP.) I just could not justify my old career anymore. I was miserable with the way things were. So, I started looking for another option, but failed to find anything that was a legitimate way to earn a solid income from home. I tried several multi-level marketing (MLM) businesses, but they all required large start up fees, inventory requirements, or minimum sales quotas that had to be met every month just to get paid. None of them offered stability because they were for products that did not really provide a good customer retention base.

I was frustrated, to say the least, and began wondering if I should just go back to work. Then, I met Dana Wikoff, a mentor for Moms Making Six Figures, on a Facebook group for moms. Dana gave me some background on what she did and after answering more of my questions, we built a relationship from there! Within a few weeks, I joined the Moms Making Six Figures team and haven’t looked back!

What is different about Moms Making Six Figures in comparison to previous work from home experiences you have had?

Where do I start? With my previous home/MLM jobs, there was a lot of enthusiasm to get you started with working and selling, but the excitement quickly wore off. I was left with little support when I had questions, technical difficulties, or simply needed help fielding a customer’s question. The support I have received at Moms Making Six Figures has been phenomenal. The spirit of community among the women here is amazing! There a ton of resources right at our fingertips, along with an encouraging mentor to answer questions and help solve problems when they arise. I feel completely supported. With the help of this team, I know I can handle anything that comes my way.

Another thing that truly stands out about Moms Making Six Figures is that there is no ridiculous “kit” or start up fees involved. You can make a solid, legitimate income without pouring money into stocking inventory and paying for personal websites to be maintained. Before joining Moms Making Six Figures, every work from home job I attempted was disheartening and left me barely breaking even after all the expenses involved. It was completely contradictory to my goal of making a solid income while still being home to take care of my family. The opportunity to grow and make a substantial income without all the muss and fuss with Moms Making Six Figures is exponential. Plus, there is zero risk. There is no concern about getting hurt financially or worrying about recouping money spent just to earn a paycheck.

How has the support at Moms Making Six Figures been different than your past experiences?

The support from the Moms Making Six Figures team is solid. There is a real community here. This is more than just a career switch… it is a lifestyle change. Through this experience I have met some of the brightest, most passionate and driven ladies. I have made friends, been cheered on, congratulated and celebrated for the smallest of victories. I strongly believe that my teammates have helped me squash a lot of my fears and conquer my goals. I have learned so much by joining the Moms Making Six Figures team. Some of what I have learned has helped me grow my business to where it is today, and some of it has helped me grow as a person. Personal development largely contributes to growing a successful business; and it is highly encouraged and fostered in this team. I could not be happier with my join Moms Making Six Figures. I am so excited about the direction of my life and business is headed! Take a chance on yourselves ladies! You are worth it, and if I can do it, you can do it.

Sometimes you hear about resilient kids who take on difficult tasks and don’t give up until they’ve accomplished what they set out to do. Other kids give up and throw tantrums at the simplest of things. While age is a factor, there comes a time when kids need to hold their own. But what makes some children keep going and others give up?

It’s resilience. The kids that face difficult tasks and come out successful are problem solvers. They face tough situations head-on and figure out the best solution. Despite what you may think, it’s not all about intelligence. According to Psychology Today, one’s IQ says nothing about how we face difficulties in our lives.

So, if you’re sitting there thinking, “I wish my kids were resilient!” the good news is, resilience can be taught. You would actually be doing them a favor: teaching children to problem solve in a healthy way from a young age can go a long way. It’s an important life skill, after all. Plus. It will make everyone’s lives easier.

Teaching Our Kids Resilience

The goal here is to get our kids to strive to be better, rather than be good. What’s the difference? Being good at something only shows how smart you are, whereas getting better is about developing your skills. According to Psychology Today, kids who strive to get better are less likely to suffer from depression and anxiety than the kids who simply aim for being good. They are more likely to see a bad grade as motivation to try harder, rather than resign to the fact that they are “not good at” a particular subject.

So, how can we teach our kids this all-important life skill? These tips will get you started:

1. Talk About Challenges Before they Happen

We may not be able to predict every single trial our children will face, but there are a few we can prepare them for. Perhaps your child is moving to a new school; be sure to explain to them that it’s an opportunity for them to build a new skill, like making new friends. Avoid saying things like, “I’m sure everyone will love you.” Although you mean well, statements like that can be misleading.

2. Don’t Give in to Everything

As moms, we can be overprotective at times (okay, all the time!); but by doing so, we aren’t giving our kids a chance to develop their problem-solving abilities. Giving guidance is great, but sometimes we have to let them face relatively tough situations on their own—and this applies to children of all ages. Mommy won’t always be there to solve all their problems.

If a kid is trying to take a toy away from your child in the sandbox, wait a minute before intervening and see how they handle it on their own.

3. Encourage Age-Appropriate Risk

Wait, what? I’m not denying that part of our job as parents is to keep our children safe; but some measured risk can be a good thing. Age-appropriate risks help teach our kids life skills and allow them to discover their limits. Children can then apply what they learn as they grow older.

4. Giving Feedback

The whole point is for your child to learn, and constructive feedback is always a good thing. Focus on how they can improve, but make sure not to compare them to anyone else. They should strive to do better than they did the previous time—to compete against themselves, rather than competing against others.

For example, if your son didn’t do well on a test, shift his focus to what he can do to improve his own grade, rather than what he can do to be the best in the entire class. If he got a ‘C’ on the last test, a realistic goal would be to shoot for a ‘B’ on the next one, instead of pressuring him to get an ‘A+’ and outperform all of his classmates.

Your feedback should emphasize that your child has the ability to change. You might explain to your child that, in order to improve at their chosen discipline, they could practice harder and more often.

Give suggestions, but don’t provide all the answers. Ask questions that will challenge them to think for themselves, and make sure to be encouraging and positive.

It All Comes Down to Balance

For parents, the question becomes to what extent you should let them discover things on their own rather than giving instruction.

Think “guided tough love.”

Start with letting go of the little things and gradually build from there. You can even give examples from your own life. Perhaps you weren’t good at swimming, but with hard work and practice you became better at it—and eventually joined the water polo team. Examples of when you gave up before you should have are also great.

We can all agree that resilience is a skill that helps carry us through our not-so-perfect lives. The sooner you start teaching your kids, the better their problem-solving skills will become as they get older.

“The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is in the team.” – Phil Jackson

You’ve heard it before, no (wo)man is an island. From the workplace to life in general, the truth is that if you have an “only I can fix it” attitude, you’re just making life more difficult for yourself.

When it comes to solving life’s problems, we as moms may sometimes (ok, most of the time) feel like we can solve everything, but we can solve our problems more quickly and with less stress when we accept others’ help. As hard as it may be to give up total control, you and everyone else around you will be better off if you work as a team.

So, if you have a partner (in business or in life), then you have someone on your team. While building a team may be easy, maintaining it is a whole other story. Here are some skills that are key to putting the “we” in team.

The 3 Cs: Skills for Successful Teamwork

1. Communication

Since you’ll be working together—at work, in business, or in your household—effective communication is the most important skill to master for successful teamwork. Listening to each other helps show support and lets everyone know what page you’re on (hopefully the same one!).

For example, if your husband has an important meeting the following morning, pay attention to his request for help and come up with a solution together. You may have to drop the kids off in the morning, but perhaps your partner can pick them up in the afternoon. If one team member doesn’t listen to the other, there will likely be serious miscommunication, which can lead to unintended mistakes (like leaving the kids stranded at school!).

How you communicate matters just as much. According to an article by Harvard Business Review, how we communicate is the most important factor in determining team success. So, be aware not just of the words you’re using, but also of your body language and the tone of your speech when you’re communicating.

2. Compromise

As long as more than one person is involved in problem-solving, there are bound to be a few conflicts along the way. Compromise in most situations isn’t a bad thing, it’s a necessity—it demonstrates that you’re putting the good of the team ahead of your own wants. So, how do you compromise?

Start by understanding what the other person is trying to say. Put yourself in their shoes and make an effort to understand their point of view. Oftentimes we are simply listening to answer—impatient to get our point across—rather than listening to understand.

For example, when hunting for a new office location, your business partner may want to stay closer to the highway because it’s more convenient for her drive from home; in contrast, you may want your office to be located in the heart of downtown because it’s closer to the business district and better for client meetings. Although there are obvious benefits to both locations, the compromise here could be to choose an office location somewhere that’s not too far of a drive from each of your homes but remains convenient for most of your clients.

3. Cooperation

Don’t you just hate it when you’re in a team at work and there’s that one person who doesn’t pull their weight? Don’t be that person—even with your spouse at home! Actively participate in decision-making and performing tasks, even if it’s just deciding who will take out the trash or run to pick-up the pizza for dinner (yes, we all occasionally revert to pizza night when life is hectic!). This makes you a more valuable team member and earns your partner’s respect.

Even when you’re super busy with work, don’t use it as an excuse to completely tune out at home. Letting your spouse do all the “heavy lifting” at home will only result in resentment, and we all know it’s pretty much downhill from there!

Cooperation may also mean taking turns. For example, you may decide to work full-time while your significant other pursues their education, and then switch when it’s your turn. This way, everyone feels respected.

The Value of Teamwork: Succeed Together

Teamwork is about problem-solving together for the benefit of the team. No one has to lose in order for each individual to win. So, rather than shutting out or excluding other people’s ideas or opinions, be open to other ways of doing things. Try to think positive: Being part of a team means more great ideas, which equal more solutions!

With these 3 skills, you and your team will be well on your way to success together—whatever that looks like for you.

What Do We Do?

Our team members are marketing representatives for US-based manufacturer of consumer products. As a member of Moms Making Six Figures, your role will be to educate others in your community about our products. We also help guide and mentor women on building and advancing their own businesses.

While our company name is catchy, making a six figure income reflects a commitment and dedication to any business, ours included.

What we can say is that there is no limit on your earning potential and you can build your business at the pace you choose, steadily or speedy.